The new Palomar Medical Center (PMC) has been named the 2012 “Best Health Care Project” in California by Engineering News-Record (ENR), the construction industry's leading provider of news and analysis.
Palomar Health’s new flagship hospital is in the running for the “Overall Best Project” award, which will be announced Thursday, Dec. 6 in San Francisco at ENR California’s award presentation. The facility will also be profiled in the latest edition of ENR California magazine.
The 11-story, 288-bed PMC was designed by CO Architects and built by DPR Construction. For years, it was the largest construction project in California.
Palomar Health District Director of Construction Wendy Cohen along with representatives from CO Architects and DPR Construction are scheduled to receive the “Best Health Care Project” award in San Francisco. DPR Construction submitted the entry for the ENR California award.
The ENR California Best Projects competition recognizes the region’s best achievements in construction and design in various categories ranging from office, healthcare and worship to industrial, landscaping and transportation.
Winners of regional competitions will compete in ENR’s national “Best of the Best Projects” contest. Winners will be profiled in a 2013 edition of ENR.
The new PMC is widely considered an architectural and technological masterpiece. Twenty-five million pounds of structural steel and 5 million feet of electrical cable were used during construction. The $956-million hospital was paid in part through a bond passed by North County voters in 2004.
“I feel proud that Palomar Health received such a prestigious award, which recognizes the voters who supported the vision of a “hospital of the future” many years ago,” Cohen said, referring to Proposition BB. “I am even more excited that the hard work of over 5,000 men and women and hundreds of companies that built this building are being recognized for their dedication. This is certainly an honor to receive this award on behalf of Palomar Health,” she added.
DPR Construction Project Executive Brian Gracz praised the many players that designed and built the 740,000-square-foot hospital for their forward-thinking and high level of collaboration.
“It was through these intents that we were able to create a high performing team and inspire everyone involved on the project to achieve unprecedented results,” Gracz said. “I am most proud of the entire project team and their dedication to solving problems in the most collaborative and selfless ways.”
Gracz said there are countless outstanding aspects of the new hospital, including extensive use of natural light, a 1.5-acre rolling green roof, wireless access throughout the facility, expansive gardens and a large custom chandelier in the main lobby that makes a dramatic first impression for those visiting the hospital.
“The results speak for themselves and we are all honored to have been a part of this unbelievable project,” Gracz said.